Elder Mitchell's Mission to Tennessee: Turtles, Train Tracks, and Tracting

Buenos,

Well, this week was pretty standard, nothing too crazy. Probably the most exciting part was that we found two turtles this week while tracting, haha. But, we were able to teach some good lessons this week. Unfortunately, we weren't able to get back in with E, C, or G this week. G texted us saying he was going to come to church, but he was a no show. On Tuesday, we went to Monterey and had another good day there. On Wednesday we had a member come out with us and we were able to get in with an investigator, J. We were reading Alma 7 with him, and he said verse 14 stuck out to him, which talks about baptism. He asked us if there was anywhere in the Book of Mormon where Christ himself talks about baptism, and we were like, "You bet there is!" We left him with 3rd Nephi 11, and hopefully we can see him again this week.

On Thursday afternoon, we went up to Gainesboro with Bro. T to go see some less actives. Then on Thursday night we had another member come with us and we had another good exchange. We talked with a Muslim guy M about lots of different things, mostly dealing with differences between Islam and Christianity. He asked a lot of great questions. His biggest hang up is that he believes that since somebody had to create Jesus, he can't be a God. I asked him "So where do you think God comes from?" and he didn't really have a good answer. Muslims, see Christ simply as a messenger instead of the son of God. They think that God wouldn't need someone to help him, so they view Christ in a different way. But, we left him with Alma 34 to read out of his Arabic Book of Mormon, so hopefully that will help.

The rest of the week was pretty boring, nothing crazy. We had some good meetings at church on Sunday. Next Sunday, we are going to try to do a "shuttle" to the Spanish branch in Lebanon. We are going to try and get a bunch of investigators and less actives to all drive down together to Lebanon. Hopefully we'll be able to get lots of people to go to that.

My ponderizer this week is Ether 12:4 which says, "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God." I love this scripture about hope. Here we are, week 14 in Cookeville, and it seems like we don't have a lot to show for it. But, we are still working hard and hoping things will eventually break though. As we have faith and hope, they will lead us to do good works! Hope y'all have a great week!

Love,
Elder Mitchell

PS: Yesterday, I hit my 10-month mark! That is so crazy how time flies!